Top of the stack: Best-selling titles by decade (5/5/2025 to 5/18/2025)
In the most recent fortnight, from May 5 to May 18, GPAnalysis.com recorded a hefty $5.3 million in CGC-graded comic sales, spread across 21,093 individual books. The median price paid? $93 — a reminder that while headline sales might grab attention, the heart of the hobby beats strongest around that sub-$100 mark.
Leading the charge in total volume was The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) — a mainstay of collectors and dealers alike — with 1,382 books traded and $600K in total sales. No surprise there, but what did raise eyebrows was the top individual sale: a CGC 9.0 copy of Showcase #4 (1956), sold for a staggering $115,000 via ReeceComics.com.
Let’s break down the top performers by decade because history sells in comic collecting.
Source: GPAnalysis.com recorded sales, May 5 – May 18, 2025.
Top 5 titles in sales by era
1930s – Weird Tales (1923–1954)
💰 Total sales: $7,206
Golden Age oddities and pulps continued to surface in small but steady numbers, with Weird Tales edging out Superman and Action Comics. These early titles rarely appear in high grade, but even low-grade copies carry substantial historical heft.
Top 5 titles by sales:
1. Weird Tales (1923-1954): $7,206
2. Superman (1939-1986): $6,061
3. Action Comics (1938): $5,960
4. Adventure Comics (1938-1983): $2,200
5. Misterios (1937): $2,040
1940s – Four Color (1939–1962)
💰 Total sales: $72,107
The 1940s were led by the ever-dominant Four Color, bolstered by nostalgic demand and Disney-backed stories. Batman held strong, with multiple Golden Age issues changing hands — Batman #8, #22, and #36 all hit the trading floor.
Top 5 titles by sales:
1. Four Color (1939-1962): $72,107
2. Batman (1940): $48,060
3. Walt Disney's Comics and Stories (1940): $45,392
4. Captain America Comics (1941-1954): $32,689
5. Superman (1939-1986): $26,259
1950s – Showcase (1956-1978)
💰 Total sales: $154,130
That $115K Showcase #4 sale? It pushed the entire Showcase line to the top of the 1950s sales chart. This was a milestone moment — Showcase #4 is often cited as the beginning of the Silver Age, and the GPA data backed that status with hard cash.
Top 5 titles by sales:
1. Showcase (1956-1978): $154,130
2. Four Color (1939-1962): $50,489
3. Crime SuspenStories (1950-1955): $28,199
4. Batman (1940): $22,649
5. Uncle Scrooge (1952-1984): $16,334
1960s – Amazing Spider-Man (1963)
💰 Total sales: $309,404
Spider-Man remains king of the Silver Age. Whether it’s issue #50, #252, or #300 — if it says ASM, it sells. Meanwhile, the Fantastic Four's legendary Galactus trilogy (issues #48–50) made a big splash in both trade volume and nostalgic buzz.
Top 5 titles by sales:
1. Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963): $309,404
2. Fantastic Four (1961): $215,933
3. Avengers, The (1963): $82,010
4. X-Men, The (1963-1981): $71,197
5. Daredevil (1964-1998): $53,785
1970s – Incredible Hulk, The (1962-1999)
💰 Total sales: $111,388
Hulk #181 brought the gamma-powered heat again, propelling Incredible Hulk ahead of even ASM in dollar terms. But in terms of excitement? Star Wars #1 proves that Force-fueled speculation still runs strong in collectors’ veins.
Top 5 titles by sales:
1. Incredible Hulk, The (1962-1999): $111,388
2. Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963): $105,382
3. X-Men, The (1963-1981): $61,118
4. Giant-Size X-Men (1975): $47,093
5. Marvel Spotlight (1971-1981): $29,201
1980s – Amazing Spider-Man (1963)
💰 Total sales: $106,727
Venom’s black suit origin in Secret Wars #8 topped the trade charts, while ASM #300 and #252 were not far behind. The 1980s remain one of the most “active” decades, where nostalgia, character relevance, and investment intersect.
Top 5 titles by sales:
1. Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963): $106,727
2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1984-1993): $35,018
3. Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars (1984-1985): $29,070
4. X-Men, The (1963-1981): $27,014
5. Uncanny X-Men, The (1981): $22,603
1990s – Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963)
💰 Total sales: $26,897
The ‘90s boom still echoes through GPA's ledger. Todd McFarlane’s Spider-Man #1 led the volume pack, but New Mutants #98 and Spawn #1 weren't far behind. Low price points, high nostalgia — it’s a recipe that keeps collectors reaching for slabbed copies.
Top 5 titles by sales:
1. Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963): $26,897
2. New Mutants, The (1983-1991): $25,527
3. Spawn (1992): $17,186
4. Spider-Man (1990-1998): $16,764
5. Uncanny X-Men, The (1981): $15,136
2000s – Invincible (2003)
💰 Total sales: $39,338
Invincible continues to punch above its weight, thanks to its indie appeal and streaming buzz. Surprising sleeper? Boy’s Club (2006) made a quiet leap into the top five by sales — a sign that collectors are tuning in to more underground heat.
Top 5 titles by sales:
1. Invincible (2003): $39,338
2. Boy's Club (2006): $10,549
3. Walking Dead (2003): $9,417
4. Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963): $9,225
5. Sentry (2000): $9,012
2010s – Ultimate Fallout (2011)
💰 Total sales: $15,718
There’s Miles Morales, and then there’s everyone else. Ultimate Fallout #4 dominated both in volume and value. Now firmly entrenched as a generational staple, Spawn continues to command presence on the leaderboard — even if it technically started in the '90s.
Top 5 titles by sales:
1. Ultimate Fallout (2011): $15,718
2. Spawn (1992): $9,598
3. Edge of Spider-Verse (2014): $7,676
4. Something is Killing the Children (2019): $7,354
5. Invincible (2003): $6,952
2020s – Amazing Spider-Man (2022)
💰 Total sales: $18,058
The present day looks bright. ASM (2022) leads again, but newcomers like Power Hour and Waifu Chronicles show that indie titles can break through the noise—and onto GPAnalysis reports—if they tap into the right cultural beats.
Top 5 titles by sales:
1. Amazing Spider-Man (2022): $18,058
2. Absolute Batman (2024): $17,053
3. Mark Spears Monsters (2024): $12,821
4. Invincible Universe: Battle Beast (2025): $11,344
5. Batman (2016): $11,334
🧠 Final thoughts
The past two weeks reaffirmed a few timeless truths. First, The Amazing Spider-Man remains the most liquid asset in the CGC-graded world — a title that spans decades and never strays far from the top. Second, historical heavyweights (Showcase #4, Batman #8, Fantastic Four #48) continue to draw serious money, showing that legacy and significance still move markets.
But perhaps most importantly, the data shows us a layered marketplace. Beneath the blockbuster sales are 21,000+ transactions — books bought not just as investments, but as collectibles, curiosities, and passion projects. Whether you’re trading a $93 slab or chasing a five-figure grail, the joy remains the same: discovering the next story to hold in your hands (or in acrylic).
We'll be back next fortnight to see what rises — and what holds — at the Top of the Stack.
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